Montgomery County, Ohio - Chapter 8, 1882

Chapter 8

Ytional - Introduction - Public Schools - German Schools - Night jboOLS - Colored Schools - Instruction in Music - High Schools - -hool Law - Superintendent of Instruction - Intermediate School - >umal Sciiool - Board of Examiners - Public Library - Free Night Sdustkial Schools - Statement of Superintendent of Penmanship - f creditable to the first settlers of Dayton that as early as 1799 a school was tight in a block-house located at the head of Main street, which had been its a protection against Indians. It was no ordinary interest in the educatheir children which led them to establish a school amid the privations of r life and danger from hostile Indians. Benjamin Van Cleve, so prominent nearly histoiy of Dayton, was the teacher, and the school was continued for ^months in 1799 and 1800. In the fall of 1804, Cornelius Westfall, a Kenkn, opened a school in a cabin on Main street, south of First, and taught a He was succeeded in 1805, by Swansey Whiting, of Pennsylvania. It is He that Dayton was at no time without a school, but we find no mention of imes of other teachers at this early period. Fortunately the records of the Ijyton Academy' were carefully preserved byr the late John W. Van Cleve, ipm this source we can trace the history of that institution.

1807, an act incorporating the Dayton Academy' was obtained from the : it u re. The incorporators were James Welsh. Daniel C. Cooper, William re, David Reid, Benjamin Van Cleve, George F. Tennery, John Folkerth ines Hanna. In 1808, the trustees erected by subscription a substantial Dry brick schoolhouse, on the lot adjoining the ground now occupied by the k'resbyterian Church. Mr. I). C. Cooper, the proprietor of the town, a man ;ye views, donated in addition to his subscription, two lots and a bell, illiam M. Smith, afterward for manyr years a prominent citizen of Dayton, !e first teacher employed. In his contract with the Trustees he proposed to

II reading, writing, arithmetic, the classics and the sciences." Training in von was made prominent, one of the rules of the school requiring that " for improvement of the boys in public speaking a certain number, previously ap- 'd by the teacher, shall at every public examination pronounce orations and 'lies, in prose and verse, to be selected or approved byT the teacher, and families shall be recited in the presence of the teacher by' all the boy's, in rota- ! ho can read with facility, every' Saturday morning."

1820, the Lancasterian or " mutual instruction " system of education was Yg great interest throughout the United States, and the Trustees of the Day- - ademy determined to introduce it in that institution. The Trustees were e:1 H. Crane, Aaron Baker, William M. Smith, George S. Houston and David i If was necessary to erect a building specially adapted to the purpose, 'use was built on the lot adjoining the academy, and consisted of a single a sixty-two feet long and thirty7-two feet wide. The floor was brick, and the 'ftps heated by "convolving flues" underneath the floor. The walls were hung with printed lesson-cards, before which the classes were placed to v under the charge of monitors selected from their own number. A Iona', na desk, thickly covered with silver sand, was provided, upon which, with sticks youngest scholars copied and learned the letters of the alphabet.

Gideon McMillan, an expert, was appointed teacher, and in the fail of the school was opened. It was continued until, like so many other theori education, the system was superseded, leaving no doubt a residuum of good w has been incorporated with our present advanced methods of instruction.

"The moral and literary instruction of the pupils entered at the Dayton casterian Academy will be studiously, diligently and temperately attended to

" They will Ire taught to spell and read deliberately and distinctly, agree to the rules laid down in Walker's Dictionary ; and in order to do that corn they will be made conversant with the first rules of grammar. The senior will be required to give a complete grammatical analysis of the words as proceed.

" They will be required to write with freedom all the different hands no use, on the latest and most approved plan of proportion and distance.

" There will be no public examinations at particular seasons ; in a Lane rian school every day being an examination day, at which all who have leisni invitee! to attend."

In 1821, the Trustees adopted the following resolution, which would In accord with present ideas of the jurisdiction of boards of education or tli thority of teachers :

" Resolved , That any scholar attending the Lancasterian School who m found playing ball on the Sabbath, or resorting to the woods or commons or day for sport, shall forfeit any badge of merit he may have obtained, and tw live tickets ; and if the offense appears aggravated, shall be further degradi the tutor shall think proper and necessary ; and that this resolution be n school every Friday previous to the dismission of the scholors."

The high hopes excited by the Lancasterian system of education, its ge adoption in the towns and cities of the United States, and its entire abandon is an interesting episode in school history, and may serve to moderate our e siasm for new methods of instruction until thoroughly tested by experience.

In 1833, the academy property was sold, and a new building erected o purchased on the southwest corner of Fourth and Wilkinson streets. At this the Trustees were Aaron Baker, Job Haines, Obadiali B. Conover, James 1 and John W. Van Cleve. Mr. E. E. Barney, a graduate of Union College York, was elected Principal in 1834. By the introduction of the anal methods of instruction, Mr. Barney exerted an important influence on our j schools. Teachers educated by him carried these methods into the schools vance of most places in the West, and gave them in their early history r reputation.

In 1857, the academy property was donated by the stockholders to the of Education, and the Central High School building stands on the site former copied by the academy. Our high school may thus trace its history back to

Among early Dayton teachers, Francis Glass, the author of a'" Life ofWai ton," in Latin, is worthy of special notice. Mr. I. P. Reynolds, a pupil ol this county in 1823, and who was instrumental in procuring the public!'.- i( Harper Brothers, of his "Life of Washington," in the introduction to that work, this account of him. He was educated in Philadelphia, taught for a time i interior of Pennsylvania, but removed in 1817 or 1818 to the Miami co where he was employed as a teacher in various places. Mr. Reynolds wish pursue classical studies, heard of Glass as a competent teacher, and deter mi visit him. He saj's : " I found him in a remote part of the county, in ; n'borhood of thrifty farmers, who hacl employed him to* instruct their children, ;,hci.n general, were then acquiring the simplest rudiments of an English educaq The schoolhouse now rises fresh on my memory. It stood on the banks of dll stream, in a thick grove of native oaks, resembling more a den for Druid - ljtes, than a temple of learning. The building was a low log cabin, with a [trail roof, but indifferently tight ; all the light of heaven found in this cabin n; through apertures made on each side in the logs, and these were covered Ailed paper to keep out the cold air, while they admitted the dim rays. The r,or benches were of hewed timbers, resting on upright posts, placed in the oild to keep them from being overturned by the mischievous urchins, who sat tj:m. In the center was a large stove, between which and the back part of hiding, stood a small desk without lock or key, made of rough plank over i( a plane had never passed ; and behind this desk sat Prof. Glass when I tfd his school. The moment he heard that my intention was to pursue the study f; languages with him, his whole soul appeared to beam from his countem" le had already commenced his "Life of Washington " in Latin, but had been hindered by his poverty. Mr. Reynolds furnished him the means to remove l.yton, where the work was completed. He taught in Dayton for some time,

1 he quaint advertisements of his school frequently appear in the Watchman tat period. The following characteristic one is found in the Watchman of 1 Y "The subscriber having completed the biography of Washington, which 1 jngaged the greater portion of his attention and solicitude for the last two a and being constiained to remain in Dayton for some months for the i'|se of correcting the proof-sheets of said work, respectfully announces ! Apis school is now open for students of either sex who may wish to prosecute sfc|l, mathematical or English studies. As respects his literary attainments, snding as a scholar, he refers to the faculty of arts of any university or coli n the United States." It is sad to think that the poor author did not enjoy jttisfaction of "correcting the proof-sheets" of the work which had been the oing ambition of his life. His friend, Mr. Reynolds, took the manuscript, led in vain to find a publisher. Leaving the country for a voyage round the r on his return, he found that Francis Glass had died. The work was not ; ' Led until 1835. It is certainly a very remarkable production for a country |( . teacher, remote from libraries. Its Latinit}^ has been pronounced good by tvrs, and it was adopted as a text-book in many schools. A copy of the work nie found in the Dayton Public Library.

lilo G. Williams was another teacher of mark, at an early da}7. In 1833, he spvited by Mr. David Pruden to come to Dayton to take charge of a manual lfJ school to be established in the large brick building owned by him, which, i recently, stood at the junction of Jefferson and Warren streets. Mr. Will- ' was to conduct the academic, and Mr. Pruden the labor and boarding depart- 1 The large building was used for the school and boarding purposes, and '] were erected for instruction in various mechanical trades. A large number - Ip from Cincinnati and other places were attracted to the school by Mr. !nns' reputation as a teacher, and the school enjoyed great popularity. Not pg a pecuniary success, it was closed after a few 3rears' trial, and Mr. Will- ' returned to Cincinnati to continue his work as a teacher there. Both Mr.

I nns and Mr. Pruden were actuated try philanthropic motives in the establish- ' jof the school, and deserve credit for the attempt to combine intellectual cultpith preparation for the practical duties of life. How this may be done is perplexing the minds of educators, and it is no discredit to them that they did Yid the solution.

jn 1844, by invitation of the Trustees, Mr. Williams returned to Dayton to Ipkarge of the Dayton Academy, where he taught for several years with great ,i( cfance- Solicited by leading members of the religious denominations to which he belonged, he resigned to take a position in a college of his church at Urb: at which place he died in 1880, having reached a ripe old age. He was a oei man of fine presence, admirable social qualities, and ever ready to unite ' others in efforts for the public welfare. He was one of the founders and the 1 President of the Dayton Library' Association, and, in many ways, left his imp on the community.

But perhaps the teacher who made the deepest impression on our systei education was Mr. E. E. Barney. Coming to Dayton in 1834, he brought i him from New York the most advanced methods of teaching, and introdi them here. He inspired his scholars with his own enthusiasm, and transfer study from a drudgery to a pleasure. He procured the best apparatus foi illustration of natural science, and by frequent excursions to the country soi to make his pupils familiar with the botany and geology of this region. Qoi sition and declamation were required studies in the school, and a literary soc and library were established under his auspices. He encouraged the plantin trees, and the cultivation of flowers, and, by every? means at his command, soi to develop a symmetrical character. He was quick to notice the aptitude ol pupils for particular professions in life, and his advice often exerted an impoi influence on their after career. The discipline of the school was mild, but and largely left to the honor of the pupils. Corporal punishment was la resorted to. Each morning the school was opened with the reading of the S tu res and prayer.

In 1838, when a public meeting was called to determine upon the buildir the first public schoolhouses, Mr. Barney heartily advocated the measure. Alth< the patronage of his private school might be decreased, he permitted no 9e motives to interfere with what he believed would promote the public inter His experience and advice were freely? given in planning and seating the schoolhouses, and his school furnished a corps of educated teachers who ca: at once the newest methods of instruction into the public schools. A large of the older citizens of Dayton were his scholars at the Dayton Acaden Cooper Seminary, and recall his instructions with gratitude. A suitable hi' phy of Mr. Barney will appear in another part of the history of Montgoi County.

Public Schools

In Ohio, until 1825, no uniform system of taxation for school purposes adopted, and until 1838, no adequate tax levied. The lack of means rather the lack of interest on the part of the people prevented the general estabbsh of public schools at an early day.

Probably before 1831, schools had been partly supported by taxation, 1 was not u-ntii that year that the school district of Dayton was formally organ A meeting was held at the court house, Saturday, May 14, 1831, and Dr. - Steele, F. F. Carrell and Warren Monger were appointed Directors; Edmund rison, Clerk, and William Bomberger, Treasurer. Soon after, a board was ularly elected and the schools organized as will appear by the following notic

"First District School will be opened Monday, December 5, 1831, by vanus Hall, approved teacher, in the school room on Jefferson street bet Water and First streets. Public money appropriated to support it. w Bruen, Nathaniel Wilson and Henry? Van Tuyl, Directors.

From this time until 1838, schools supported by taxation were taught few months each year in rented rooms. No public school buildings had erected, and the majority of the citizens sent their children to private scl During this period, the following persons served at different times as Direc Thomas Brown, William Hart, James Slaght, I. H. Mitchell, David Osborn,! P. Lowe, Simon Snyder and William H. Brown. Among the teachers ol r ;l were Mr. and Mrs. Leavenworth Hnrd, who taught in the old academy build- : vii St. Clair sti'eet. The public funds not being sufficient to sustain this school, ' r quarter was charged for each scholar. tVe have now reached the period when the public schools assumed the irnpor- . in the public estimation which they have ever since maintained.

;u 1837, Samuel Lewis was elected by the Legislature State Superintendent hools. Mr. Lewis entered upon his work with great enthusiasm, visiting e | part of the State, and addressing the people at all important points. It of these addresses that led to the public meeting in 1838, which resulted je building of two sehoolhouses. Prior to that time, not more than §300 in \ 'lie year could be raised by taxation in a school district for the purpose of ; ing sehoolhouses. the law of 1838, it was provided that "a special -cfea- might be called after twenty days' notice, stating an intention to propose Aoolhouse tax, at which a maj&'it}'' of the voters present, being householders, i 'authorized to determine by vote upon the erection of a schoolhouse, and how i money should be raised for such purpose.'' Legal notice was given, and a ;;djc meeting assembled in the church which formerly stood on Main street, t :eu First and Water streets. Strenuous opposition was made to the levy of ix by a few wealthy citizens, but after a heated discussion, the measure was rid by a large majority. The amount to be raised was fixed at $6,000, and it i- esolved to build two houses, one in the eastern and one in the western part o te city.

The opposition did not end with the meeting, and an injunction was applied r p prevent the levy of the tax. It was believed that it could not be proved a the law had been complied with in giving notice of the meeting. This had f' anticipated by Mr. E. E. Barney, who had taken the precaution to post the itas in person, and, accompanied by a friend, had visited them from time to into see that they were not removed. The injunction was not granted, and the ps were built on the sites now occupied by the Second and Fourth District dhouses. The plans were taken from the Common School Journal, and emx id the most advanced ideas of the time on the subject of school architecture. Unfortunately no records of this important period of our school history have . preserved, and relying on tradition for our scanty facts, justice cannot be >i to the public spirited citizens who were the early and zealous friends of our i1 c schools.

Ralph P. Lowe, Simon Snyder and W. LI. Brown were the directors of the ills in 1838-39. The latter two have since died. Mr. Lowe removed many - ; ago to Iowa, where he has held the distinguished positions of Judge of the i eme Court and Governor of the State. In March, 1S39, the schools were jxed and continued for three quarters of twelve weeks each. Mr. Collins lit was Principal of the Western District, and Mr. Elder, of the Eastern. The 1 y of the Principals was $500 per annum. In addition to the Principals, one taj assistant and three female teachers were employed in each house.

In 1839-40, Simon Snyder, It. P. Brown and Thomas Brown, served as Di- and in 1840-41, G. W. Bomberger, Jefferson Patterson and Solomon Price. In 1841, a city charter was granted to Dayton, by which the control of the mion schools was given to the City Council. In the interim between the en- -1 ent of the city charter and the appointment of a Board of Managers of comschools as provided for, a Committee of the City Council wTas appointed to >1 charge of the schools. This committee consisted of Henry Strickler, David t s and David Winters. On the records of the City Council is found the first drtof the condition of the schools, made June 14, 1841. The committee say: J'W'as necessary to suspend the schools from April, 1841, until January, 1842, } nable the Directors of 1841 to discharge the indebtedness incurred in 1839 by ^'Directors of that year requiring the schools to be kept open the whole year, thj anticipating $800 of the school fund of 1840. The schools were kept open in 1840 six months ; then suspended until January, 1841, with a view of dost without indebtedness. But the great change in money affairs defeated the oliiei as the poll-tax of 50 cents a scholar could not be collected. The schoolhous are now in use by the Principals of the schools, in which they are teaching privs schools. They hold them on condition that in each house twenty charity schol; shall be taught each quarter."

The city charter fixed the levy for school purposes in Dayton at two mills the dollar, and directed that the " school tax so levied, and all other funds tl may be collected or accrue for the support of common schools, shall be exclusl ly appropriated to defray the expenses of instructors and fuel, and for no otl purpose whatever." No provision was made for contingent expenses, whirl-, r< dered it necessary to require a tuition fee of 50 cents per quarter from each schol Parents who were unable were not expected to pay. This tax was continued several years, until suitable provision was made by law for contingent expens In addition to the levy of two mills for tuition purposes, ample power was gii to the City Council to issue bonds, by vote of the people, for the erection of schc houses.

The city charter directed " the City Council shall in the month of Jamia: each year, select from each ward in the city one judicious and competent pel's as a manager of common schools ; the persons so selected shall constitute and denominated the Board of Managers of Common Schools in the City of Dayt and shall hold their offices for one year, and until their successors shall be ehos and qualified."

The general management of the school was committed to this board, but the most important particulars it was merely the agent of the Council. The pr er to levy taxes, and issue bonds was vested in the Council, and the board only recommend the amount that in its judgment was- needed. Practically, li< ever, the board exercised complete jurisdiction, as in no case was its recoramen tions disregarded. The fact that the two bodies co-operated for so many ye without serious difference of opinion or conflict, conclusively shows the unankn of public sentiment in favor of liberal provision for the schools.

The first Board of Managers was appointed by the City Council in Jamu 1842, and was composed of the following members : First Ward, Ebenezer F ler ; Second Ward, Robert W. Steele ; Third Ward, Simon Snyder ; Fourth V> ; Edward W. Davies ; Fifth Ward, William J. McKinney.

From a report made to the City Council December 12, 1842, it appears t the total amount of school fund in the treasury, January, 1842, was $2,482 From this had to be deducted a loss on uncurrent money of $317.35, and ai debtedness from the last year of $552.55, leaving only $1,582.95 with which to c duct the schools.

Four schools were opened - two in the public schoolhouses, and two in veil rooms. Six male and ten female teachers were employed. The Principals w W. W. Chipman, W. J. Thurber. E. H. Hood and William Worrel. The salary Principals was $110 per quarter ; of male assistants, $80 ; and of female teach $50. The board was determined to close the year without debt, and the sck< were continued only7 one quarter one month and one week, exhausting every 1 iar of the fund. The houses, however, were not closed, the teachers contini: private schools in them throughout the y7ear.

The text-books used were Pickett's spelling-book, McG-uffey's readers, burn's and Emerson's arithmetics, Mitchell's geography, Smith's grammar, Parley's book of history. A resolution was offered in the board to make the I a text-book, which was passed with the amendment that the teachers be requei tu read a portion of it each morning at the opening of the schools. This exerl has been continued in the schools until the present time. In the revised r adopted by7 the board in 1874, the following section was passed without oppo|iti - The schools shall be opened in the morning with reading the sacred Scriptu without comment, and repeating the Lord's Prayer, if desired."

City Of Dayton

"he amount received from the 50-cent tuition charge in 1842 was only $162.48. sss a time of great pecuniary embarrassment, of broken banks and unpaid taxes, j oost inauspicious to inaugurate the public-school system. No taxes, how- .-i vere so cheerfully paid as those for the maintenance of schools, and the board 7 s heered in this day of small things by the cordial support of the people.

n 1843, the schools were open for six months, and the year closed without ieb The time was lengthened as the funds would justify, until in 1849, the full . l all-year was reached.

German Schools

in 1841, the Legislature passed a special act, directing that a German school old be opened in Dayton, to be supported by the school tax paid by German lias. This law, false in principle, and calling for a division of the school fund, much of the special legislation before the adoption of the constitution of L 5 was evidently enacted without due consideration. It was found to be j '.cticable, and no action was taken until 1844, when the board was authorized w to introduce German on the same basis as other studies. In that year a : an school was opened, and William Gemein appointed teacher. Since that this department has been a constituent part of our school system, and has vised proportionally with the English, as the wants of the German population iked. In the German schools, one-half the time is given to instruction in :)|sh.

Night Schools

m 1845, in response to a petition from apprentices and others unable to ell the day schools, a night school was opened. Since that time, a sufficient ijer of such schools have been provided during the winter months to meet the emnd, and have reached a large class of pupils who would have been deprived is benefits of our public schools.

Colored Schools

Jntil 1849, no provision was made bylaw for the education of colored youth. ie school law of 1849, school authorities were authorized to established sep-

I school districts for colored persons, to be managed by directors to be chosen ult male colored tax-payers. The property of colored tax-payers was alone ajeable for the support of these schools. Under this law a school was opened 19, and continued until the law of 1853 placed schools for colored youth on ieime basis as those for white. By that law, boards of education were directed

II ever the colored youth in any school district numbered more than thirty, to dish a separate school or schools for them, to be sustained out of the general u Since that time the colored schools have been conducted under the man- T ent of the Board of Education, and colored youth have the same facilities of lotion extended to them as to white. Pupils prepared in these schools are rped to the intermediate and high schools.

Instruction In Music

Inly a few hours of each week were devoted to music, and instruction was in the upper grades only. This arrangement was continued until 1870, i' the board employed a superintendent of music, and an assistant, both of m were to devote their whole time to the schools, and give instruction in all e fades. In 1872, William IT. Clarke was elected Superintendent of Music, and vduced the plan now adopted in the schools of using the teachers as assistants, in in some measure meets the objection that no one man can do the work necesi to be done in this department. The teacher in each room is now responsible ' ie proficiency of the scholars in this as in the other branches of study. The

After the resignation of Mr. Clarke, James Turpin was elected Superintend but died before his term of office expired. Mr. Turpin was the first music-teac elected by the board, in 1848, and at different periods rendered many year faithful and efficient service in this department. F. C. Mayer is the prei incumbent.

High School

As the public schools grew in popularity, and the large majority of the i dren of all classes in the city attended them, the need of instruction in t,h, hi; branches was more and more felt by the public. In 1847, the Board of Edi tion procured from the Legislature the extension to Dayton of the provisio the Akron school law, granting to that town authority to establish a high scl In 1848, the Principals of the schools petitioned the board for the privileg teaching some of the higher branches to meet a want expressed by many of t more advanced pupils. In their petition they state that many of their scholars are drawn from the public to private schools from the lack of this iasl tion, and say that "we at present desire to introduce the elements of algebra geometry, and perhaps physiology7 and natural philosophy." A committee of board reported on this petition that it would not be wise to introduce such insi tion in the district schools, but recommended the establishment of a high scl It was not, however, until 1850 that decisive action was taken. On April 4, 1 Mr. Henry L. Brown offered the following resolution, which was unanimo adopted :

Resolved , That this board do now establish the Central High School of ton, in which shall be taught the higher branches of an English education, the German and French languages, besides thoroughly reviewing the studies sued in the district schools.

On April 1 5, 1850, the school was opened in the Northeastern District Sc! house. James Campbell was Principal ; Miss Mary Dickson, Assistant, and Ji Turpin, Teacher of Music. In the fall of 1850, the school was removed tc academy building, the free use of which was granted by7 the Trustees to the B of Education. In June, 1857, an enabling act having been obtained from Legislature, the Trustees executed a deed for the property to the Board of Ec tion, and, the same year, the old building was removed and the present high s< building erected. While the house was building the school was taught in rf rooms in the Dickey Block, on Fifth street.

The curriculum of the school has been enlarged from time to time until it embraces all the branches of study usually pursued in the best city high set Latin, or its equivalent - German or French - is required to be studied by a! pupils. Greek is taught, but comparatively so few desire to study it that i been questioned whether it is right to expend the public money in such instnn A large number of pupils have been prepared for college in our high school many of them have taken high rank in their classes ; and yet this may have accomplished at too great cost to the public. It is so difficult to adjust the c« of study in a high school to the wants of the mass of pupils, and the require! for admission the college class, that it is to be hoped that these requirements be so modified byT our best colleges that this difficulty may be removed, and | of the graduates of our high schools induced to avail themselves of the br< culture these colleges offer.

The first class was graduated in 1854, and consisted of two members ; the a of 1880, twenty-seven members ; the total number of graduates is 477. It is it esting to note that the graduates of the first class are now teachers in our pub- -bools, and have always ranked among the best. No one familiar with our ;t can glance over the list of graduates, and trace their history as teachers in our : rls, or as filling prominent positions in business circles and society, without r<? impressed with the noble work accomplished by this school.

School Law Of 1853

The Constitution of Ohio adopted in 1851 directed "that the Legislature u make such provisions by taxation or otherwise as, with the income arising the school trust fund, will secure a thorough and efficient system of common Ibis throughout the State." The first Legislature elected under the new conation enacted the excellent school law of 1853. Up to this, time, our schools i been conducted under the city charter and parts of several acts of the Leg- Lire that were construed to apply to them. To simplify and make certain the , ^applicable to our schools, and to relieve the board in its action from the ! ! rvision of the City Council, it was determined, in accordance with a provision of he law of 1853, to submit to a popular vote the question of conducting the Ipls of the city' under that law. The vote was taken at the city election in 1 1, 1855, and decided without opposition, in the affirmative. The City Council aed an ordinance May 25, 1855, defining the number, the mode of election, and it erm of office of the Board of Education. Heretofore the board had consisted Lae member from each ward, appointed by the City Council to serve one year.

;r the ordinance, the board was to be composed of two members from each al, one to be elected each year by the people, with a term of service of two ?:3. The first board it provided should be appointed by the Council. From ' > until the present time, the schools have been conducted under this ordinance ajthe general school laws of the State. The first board appointed - one-half to v -L until the next city election - was composed of the following members : First L:d, D. A. Wareham, Harvey Blanchard ; Second Ward, Bobert W. Steele, J.

Superintendent Of Instruction

The need of a general superintendent to give unity to our school system had »* been felt by members of the Board of Education, but the opposition of some

I ie teachers who had influence with a majority of the board, and the plea of orny, prevented for years the establishment of the office. Duties of superi >n were imposed on members of the board, which at the best were very imehctly discharged. It was not until August, 1855, that the office was created,

II James Campbell, Principal of the high school, elected Superintendent, with h understanding that he should retain his principalship and devote one-half of i lme to the high school. In July, 1858, he was released from his duties in the ni school, and instructed to devote his whole time to the supervision of the cools. Mr. Campbell prepared a report of the condition of the schools for L-57, which was the first extended report of our schools published. In May, T ; he resigned, to engage in private business.

Although the office was not abolished, repeated efforts were made in vain to 'u a Superintendent until 1866. In that year, impressed with the urgent need "tppervision for the schools, Mr. Caleb Parker, a member of the board, who had c'ecl from business, and who possessed the requisite experience and leisure to charge the duties of the office, agreed to accept the position, with the distinct proviso on his part that his services should be without compensation. He v elected in July, 1866, and served until April, 1868, when he tendered ; resignation.

The second published report of the board for 1866-67 was prepared by hi On retiring from the office, Mr. Parker received a unanimous vote of thanks fr< the board for his disinterested and very useful services.

Again it was impossible to find a man who could command the vote of t majority of the board for Superintendent. Various expedients were resorted > by members of the board friendly to the office to secure an election. To remcj the objection of unnecessary cost in conducting the schools, a plan which had be; adopted with marked success in Cleveland was proposed. A committee of t board was appointed to consider it, and reported June 22, 1871, that " the efficion of the school system would be increased without expense by the election of Superintendent, a supervising male Principal, and female Principals for the distr schools." This report was adopted by the board, and Warren Higley elect Superintendent, and F. W. Parker Supervising Principal. This plan was eont ued for two years with excellent results ; but the majority of the board of 18 decided to return to the old system.

In 1874, John Hancock, whose reputation for ability and large experience a teacher and superintendent commended him to the board, was elected, and 1 been continued in the office until the present time.

The necessity of the office of Superintendent as a part of a system of cl schools is now conceded by all, and it is believed that in Dayton in the future t office will never be vacant.

Intermediate School

It was found that owing to the removal of scholars from school before read ing the eight-year grade, the classes of that grade were very small in some of t districts. The Principals who were receiving the highest salaries were giving t most of their time and strength to these classes, and the cost of teaching them w excessive. To remedy this, the intermediate school was established in 1874. a all the pupils of the eighth-year grade in the city were assigned to that school. . at present organized, the course of study has not been enlarged, and the school simply a union of the classes of the eighth year for convenience and econoir After oue year in this school, pupils, upon examination, pass to the high scho The school is located in the Fourth District schoolhouse, and is taught by a ma Principal and two female assistants. W. P. G-ardner was the first Principal, w h after serving one year, declined a re-election. Samuel C. Wilson was e.lecti Principal in 1875, and is the present incumbent.

Normal School

It was impossible to procure experienced teachers to fill the vacancies constant occurring in the schools. Young girls, without knowledge of methods of governme or teaching, were placed over rooms full of children just at the most irrepressil period of their lives. These positions were confessedly the most difficult to fill any at the disposal of the board ; but there was no alternative. Ambitious ai experienced teachers naturally sought the rooms where the higher branches we taught, leaving the lower grades for the novices. It is true that many of the be and most valued teachers now in the schools began without experience : but t first 3'ear of their teaching was a heavy labor to themselves and an injustice i their pupils. A partial remedy was found by making the position of an expo enced and successful primary teacher as honorable, and the pa}7 as large, as th of any teacher in the district schools below the grade of principal. But this cl not fully meet the case, and the board determined to educate its teachers. A coi mittee of the board, August 18, 1869, presented a detailed plan for a normal scho and teachers' institute, which was unanimously adopted.

The first week of each school year is devoted to the Teachers' Institute. All fh teachers of the public schools in the city are required to attend, and to render sjch assistance in instruction as may be requested by the Superintendent of | tools. The best methods of teaching and government are discussed and taught,

As the great majority of the teachers in the schools are women, instruction : the Normal School is confined to them. Graduates of the high school are adi tted without examination, and comprise a large part of the school. Others <siring admission are required to pass a thorough examination in the ordinary i inches of an English education. Applicants must be not less than seventeen nrs of age, and must pledge themselves to teach in the schools of Dayton two yirs after their graduation, should their services be desired by the board. The hard on its part guarantees to the graduates situations as teachers in the public spools whenever vacancies occur.

In the Normal School, the studies to be taught in the district schools are revwef, new methods of teaching are explained and illustrated, and thorough inaction is given in the theory and practice of teaching. Rooms in the school Hiding where the school is located are placed in charge of pupils of the school, t o, under the constant supervision of an experienced critic-teacher, thus learn ts practical work of the school room.

In the fall of 1869, the school was opened in the Sixth District house, and up this time has graduated 122 teachers. A large majority of these are now t ployed in our schools, and are doing excellent work. It would be unreasonable t expect that all the graduates of the Normal School would prove equally good l chers ; but that the instruction received has been invaluable to them and a pat gain to the schools no one acquainted with the facts can doubt. In the v mary departments, the beneficial effects of this school are particularly noticeable.

Col. F. W. Pai'ker was the first Principal of the school, assisted by Miss Emma : H. Brown, a graduate of a normal school. Upon the election of Col. Parker as ~ lervising Principal of the schools, Miss Brown became Principal, and continued a the head of the school until her resignation in 1873. In 1873, Mr. W. W. Vitkins. Principal of the Sixth District School, was made Principal of the Normal Stool also, and held the position one year. In 1874, Miss Jane W. Blackwood,

Board Of City Examiners

The school law of 1873-74 directs the Board of Education of each city district o the first class to appoint a board of examiners, " who shall have power to examine t schools established in such district, and shall examine all persons who desire hold teachers' certificates, valid in such district." The Dayton Board of Educa- l had long felt the need of a board of city examiners, and was influential in and other clauses in the excellent school law of E. Morgan Wood, to Columbus, to confer with the use Committee on Common Schools. Under this law, George P. Clarke, J. A. oert and William Smith were appointed city examiners. Mr. Clarke and Mr. ith removed from the city, and their places were filled by William Isenberg and lert W. Steele. Mr. Robert and Mr. Isenberg, after years of faithful service.

Public Library

Dayton may claim the honor of having obtained from the Legislature the first aj °f incorporation for a public library granted by the State of Ohio. The incjporators were Rev. William Robertson, Dr. John Elliott, William Miller, ijamin Van Cleve and John Folkerth. This act was passed by the Legislature

The Library Association was organized January 12, 1847, by the election the following officers : President, M. G-. Williams ; Vice President, Dr ,)o Steele ; Treasurer, V. Winters ; Secretary, P. W. Steele : Directors, C. G. Swain. Thresher, James McDaniel. John G. Lowe and D. Beckel. A large smn of mon was raised by subscription, a choice collection of books was purchased, and rooi in the Phillips Building, on the corner of Main and Second streets, were express prepared and elegantly fitted up for the reception of the library. This library, connection with a reading-room, and with its winter course of lectures, was si tained for many years, and was one of the marked features of our city. A fi public library having been established, it was manifest that there was no need the library association in a city of the population of Dayton, and that the pub interests would be best served by a union of the two. In 1860, the stoekkoldt of the library association by vote transferred their valuable library and furnitu without cost, to the Board of Education. At the time of the transfer, the office of the libraary association were : D. A. Haynes, President ; Wilbur Conover, V President; I. II. Kiersted, Secretary ; B. G. Young, Treasurer; Directors, .1, Phillips, L. B. Gunckel, L. B. Bruen, Dr. John Davis and Daniel Wayrnire.

By the school law of 1853, a tax of one-tenth of a mill on the dollar w levied for library purposes ; but it was not until 1 855 that this tax was availal: At that time, the city of Dayton was entitled to $1,400 of the fund. Mr. II. Barney, the State School Commissioner, had made large purchases of books i distribution, but had necessarily adapted his list of books mainly to the wants country districts. It was found that Dayton would have to accept a large nuiul of duplicates and triplicates if supplied with books out of the purchases ma for the State. It was very desirable that a committee of the board should be pi mitted to select the books for the Dayton Library ; and application was made Mr. Barney for this privilege, which he promptly and cheerfully granted. T first purchase consisted of 1,250 volumes, comprising books in every depavtme of literature. Great care was taken in the selection of the books to meet t popular wants, and the library, small as it was, at once became a favorite with t people, and was extensively used. The library was opened in the fall of 1855. a rented room on the northeast corner of Main and Fourth streets. W. H. Bi terfield was the first librarian. At this time the library was accessible only Saturdays, from 10 to 12 A. M. and from 2 to 5 P. M. As the numbers drawl; books increased, the time was lengthened, until now the library is open ea secular day of the week from 9 A. M. to 9 P. M.

In 1856, the Legislature suspended the tax of one-tenth of a mill on the cl lar, and from that time until 1866 the library was sustained and increased appropriations made by the board from the contingent fund. By concerted noli on the part of Boards of Education of cities of the first and second class, tl Legislature was induced to pass the law of 1866, conferring power on such cit to levy a tax of one-tenth of a mill for library purposes. This tax, so insignificai to the individual tax-payer, amounting to only 10 cents on $1,000 valuation, 1880, in Dayton yielded about $2,000. As this sum is exclusively approprin Ijj to the purchase of books, all other expenses of the library being paid out of tf contingent fund, the increase of books each year is considerable and valuable ii

The public library is an essential part of the public school system. The o is the complement of the other. Without access to books of reference by teach and pupils, many branches of study cannot be satisfactorily and thorough taught. The daily use of the library by the scholars, particularly of the high a normal schools, for consultation on subjects connected with their studies, is vf noticeable and gratifying.

During the month of January, 1880, 6,790 volumes were drawn from th library, and during the year, 60,391. In addition, 5,212 volumes were 'Consult! in the rooms. The average daily circulation was 195 volumes.

Free Night Industrial Schools

Impressed with the importance in a manufacturing city of affording artisans ! others the opportunity of instruction in drawing, the Board of Education iblished, in 1877, Free Night Industrial Schools. A school of free-hand drawi)| was opened in the G-ebhart building, on Third street, December 17, 1877, with - ies Jessup and Valentine Schwartz as teachers. On March 6, 1879. a school ifiaechanical and architectural drawing was added, and opened in the First ij'rict Schoolhouse, with Thomas A. Bisbee as instructor.

To call attention to this important branch of instruction, a public exhibition fie work of the pupils was given in the City Hall. Committees of competent iljens were appointed to examine and report on the work, and such results were Jin as to firmly establish the schools in popular favor. On November 11. 1880, kfree-hand drawing school was removed to the large hall of the Eaker building, i Isaac Broome and Charles B. Nettleton, as instructors, and the mechanical ,}| architectural drawing school continued in the First District Schoolhouse under i charge of Mr. Bisbee. The city is largely indebted for the introduction of this Artant branch of study to Mi'. A. D. Wilt, a member of the Board of Educate who deserves great credit for the persistency with which he advocated the inure until he secured its adoption. Experience has shown the great value of ii© schools. The Committee on the Schools for 1880 say : " The attendance nthe past year has been greater than ever, and the quality of the work, as rated by experts appointed to examine it, has been of a highly satisfactory char- About three hundred youth and adults from every walk of life have been ucted, many of whom are constantly using their knowledge in their daily avo- < >ns, much to their own advantage, as well as to that of their employers."

Comparative Statement

A comparison of the schools at different periods of their history will forcihllustrate the progress which has been made. Before the appointment of a m Tintendent of Instruction, full and reliable statistics are not found on the records f je Board. The years 1857 and 1867 are chosen because reports were published i ose years by Messrs. Campbell and Parker and the facts thus made accessible, her the present system, the completest statistics in every department are molded and published. As the records of the Board of Education begin in : . that year is taken as the starting point.

The increasing proportion from period to period of the average daily attend- 1( to the total enrollment is marked, and indicates the growing etlicienc}' of the :''ls. In 1857, it was forty-eight per cent; in 1867, sixty-six per cent; in 'i seventy -one per cent ; in 1880, seventy -four per cent.

It is not so easy to represent to the eye the growth in other and more imporu particulars. A complete system of gradation has been established, consistf a seven-years' course in the district schools, one in the intermediate, four ; high, and one in the Normal School, supplemented by a large and free pubaary. New methods of instruction have been introduced, and, as far as they °,( the test of trial in the school-room, are now in use ; and suchysalaries are l«ijteachers as to secure the services of the best and most experienced.

present system of gradation has been reached. It has been a growth rather t a creation. The principle was recognized, and, as far as circumstances would mit, practiced at the very beginning of our schools in 1842. At different tii teachers of marked ability and large experience have been employed, who b left their impress on the schools by bringing to them advanced methods instruction, the result of their own experience or learned in other cities. Our tem now comprises nearly all the departments which experience has shown t< desirable.

Equal progress has been made in school architecture. As new buildi have been erected, no pains have been spared to introduce whatever improves: in lighting, seating, heating and ventilating experience in our own and other ci has suggested. There are in the city fifteen school buildings containing ! rooms, with a seating capacity for 6,479 children. The value of school prop: belonging to the city, as estimated by the Superintendent of Buildings, araoit to $321,706.

No doubt, similar progress has characterized the schools of the other citif i the State. It is matter for congratulation that boards of education everyw t are encouraged by popular support to make such liberal provision for schci The progress made in the past should only incite to greater efforts in the fut - The aim should be that perfection which is ever to be pursued, but never fjl attained.

As no mention could be made in the appropriate places of many of the ix r bers of the Board of Education and teachers, who have been influential in me ing and giving character to our schools, in jus'ice to them, the names of p Presidents of the board from 1842 to 1880, of these members who have sen; four or more years, and of the Principals of the schools from the beginning, ! given. Many of the assistant teachers are more worthy of mention than somjjc the Principals ; but to give a few names would be invidious, and to print themi.1 impossible.

Principals Of The District Schools Prom 1839 To 1880

Besides the schools supported by taxation, numerous other schools have i sd in Dayton. It would be impossible to notice the many private schools nil have done so much for the intellectual culture of the community. Atten- H nnst be confined to those which from their size, or the prominence of their 1 buildings, have especially attracted public attention.

Cooper Academy

n 1814, before the establishment of the Central High School, the Cooper a emy was incorporated. The first Board of Trustees were: Samuel Forrer,

' Phillips, Edward W. Davies, Robert C. Schenck, Robert W. Steele and Vrd Green. The principal object of the founders was to provide a school for borough education of their daughters at home. The Trustees of the Cooper (0 donated to the Academy a large and valuable lot on First street, hjfting from Wilkinson to Perry streets, and a liberal subscription was made by . 'das for the erection of a suitable building for boarding and day scholars. In h er, 1845, the school was opened. Mr. E. E. Barney was elected Principal,

1 itered upon the work with the ability and energy which characterized whatlie undertook. The school attained a great reputation, and attracted a large !| 3r of pupils from abroad. ' he following persons have served as Principals of the institution in the order 1 " ch they are named : E. E. Barney, Miss Margaret Coxe, Dr. J. C. Fisher, 'Victor Conrad, Rev. John S. Galloway, Mrs. B. G. Galloway, and J. A. Robert, esent Principal.

he institution has sent out a large number of graduates to all parts of the %> aufl is now in successful operation, the instruction never having been 1 "Thorough and broad than under the present management.

Catholic Schools

has been taught in connection with it. The present fine school building erected in (867. It contains six rooms, three for boys and three for girls. I hundred and fifty pupils are enrolled, and the ordinary branches of study taught in German and English, with the addition of needlework for the girls, boys are taught by the brothers of St. Mary's, and the girls by the sisters of N Dame.

St. Joseph's Church was founded in 1847 and a school opened at the sarnet In 1857. the Sisters of Charity purchased a building near St. Joseph's Church, w had been erected for a Presbyterian Church, and opened a day academy, bo ing and free school. In 1863, the house adjoining the school was parch; and used by the sisters for a residence. In 1868, the boarding school ceased the academy continued for several years when the school was made free to and now constitutes the girl's school of St. Joseph's Church. In 1879, the residence was torn down and a new building erected, which is joined to the sc by large corridors and alcoves. Three hundred girls are enrolled in this scho

In 1873, St. Joseph's Public School for Boyrs was erected at a cost for b ing and furniture of $25,000. Two hundred and fifty boys are enrolled, teachers are employed in the two schools, one of whom devotes her time tc struction in music. The Sisters of Charity have charge of both schools. In 1 schools, in addition to the ordinary the higher branches are taught.

St. Mary's Church was founded in 1859. The first school building i meeting the demands of the congregation, the present one was erected in 187 a cost of $5,300. There are three rooms for boys and three for girls; and ; scholars are enrolled. The ordinary branches are taught in English and Ger : The boys are taught by the Brothers of St. Mary's and the girls by the Si: of Notre Dame.

Holy Trinity Schools

Holy Trinity Church was built in 1 860. This Church has two school ! ings, one for boys and one for girls. Each building has three departments six teachers are employed. Two hundred boys and two hundred and twentjj girls are enrolled. The boys are taught by the Brothers of St. Mary's an girls by the Sisters of Notre Dame.

School Of The Sisters Of Notre Dame

The Sisters of Notre Dame established a school in Dayton in 1849,0) corner of Ludlow and Franklin streets. Their object was the care and educ of orphans, but not receiving a sufficient number they^ opened boarding and schools, and also took charge of the parochial schools of Emanuel Parish, some years circumstances having changed, the schools in the house were givi and the Sisters took charge of the schools of Holy Trinity Parish in I860, a; St. Mary's in 1870. The number of pupils trained in the city'- by the Sist about six hundred. The house at the corner of Ludlow and Franklin stre< used by them as a residence.

The description of the Catholic schools is not as complete as could bede There are no published reports from which to draw and full information com be obtained. The enrollment of scholars may not be perfectly accurate, some cases it was reported as "about" the number given.

Having thus passed in review the educational history of Dayton, it m; well to summarize the whole to ascertain how far the youth of the city avail selves of the excellent facilities afforded for instruction.

Byr the school census of September, 1879, the number of youth in th< between the ages of six and twenty-one years was 11,660 ; the number be ifend sixteen years, 8,693. On this basis, Mr. Hancock, the Superintendent of -! lie Schools, estimates the school attendance of the city as follows: ''The aerators reported at the time of taking the school census 5,439 pupils in the itilic schools, 214 in private schools, and 1.333 in church schools. If we add jper cent for subsequent additions to the last two classes of schools, we shall iae for the total enrollment of the day schools of the city :

[Of the pupils in the public schools four per cent were sixteen years of age n above. Applying this standard to all the schools, we should have as a total i llment 304 pupils of that age, leaving 7,299 as the number enrolled bev n six and sixteen. This would be eighty-four per cent of all the youth iterated between those ages, leaving sixteen per cent of the youth of what is sjjoially considered the school age, who were not in school for a single day."

It relieves this dark picture somewhat to reflect that a considerable number rpils leave school before reaching the age of sixteen, to engage in work, and 4 many who are embraced in the sixteen per cent of non-attendance may have r ed substantial benefits from the instruction afforded in our free schools. The ' eprable fact, however, remains that notwithstanding the abundant provision Mali for the education of the youth of the city, large numbers are unreached, eibl reports from all our cities reveal an equal or greater percentage of nont dance. How to reach and reform the evil is an unsolved problem. Compul- laws have proved inefficient, and the only- remedy appears to be an enlight- > Dublic sentiment, which shall brand as a disgrace and a crime the neglect of p ent to provide for the education of his children.

This institution had its origin in the year 1849, when Rev. L. Meyer, a priest, >er of the Society of Mary, whose mother house is located in Paris, France, n to Dayton to assist Rev. H. D. Juncker, who was afterward Bishop of Alton, then pastor of Emanual Church in this city. Father Meyer had 'U. brother teachers sent from France to teach in this country ; two were en- -gl in teaching in Cincinnati, and three were not employed. It was to give ® teachers employment, and Dayton a better school than she had, that the v end gentleman conceived the idea of establishing St. Mary's Institute. The o id (100 aci'es) upon which the school is located, was purchased of John of, a Scotchman, and was formerly owned by Hon. Charles Anderson. On 1 e ;h of March, 1850, two of the Brothers arrived here from Cincinnati, one of 1 1, Rev. M. Zehler, is still connected with the institution, and the third one on ' )th of the same month to take charge of the farm. On the 19th of March, of ' tine year, the deed was made, and as Rev. L. Meyer had no money to pay on 3 urchase, he handed Mr. Stuart a small medal of St. Joseph, saying, "St. "sjjh will pay." Mr. Stuart, soon after selling the property, left for Europe, and rothers took entire possession of the premises. In June, 1850, a school was : e d for day scholars, the number being about thirty-seven. September, of the 'Wear, boarders were admitted, and the boarding-school, that was begun with 'ipil, Joseph G-reulich, numbered in the years from 1870 to 1875, over two Hed. Rev. L. Meyer, in 1853, purchased 12 acres more of land, which was in 8 H'poratiou and adjoining the original purchase. In 1854, he built an addi- o the former house, and all wras prosperous and doing well, when, in Decem- " b 355, a fire broke out, which destroyed the old as well as the new building, so e ('others, with their Superior, were without a home, and a debt of $12,000 " nhg over their heads, as they had paid nothing on the principal, and had no insurance on the buildings. The community lodged first in a house in to that was newly-built and without doors or windows. August, 1856, they begai rebuild the old house, and this was accomplished as time and means would mit. In 1857, the school was re-opened and well patronized. In November, li Rev. L. Meyer was recalled to France, where he opened an orphan asylum at Ken Alsace. Before leaving he paid off all the original debt to Mr. Stuart, and left property unincumbered. The number of pupils increasing, the directors saw t they were obliged to build again. The buildings then existing (1864) wet chapel, 32 by 60 feet ; the main building, 40 by 80 feet, and another wing soi 30 by 60 feet ; and to this latter was added a building extending east 40 by feet, with a basement, and two stories for schools and sleeping- rooms. In 11 another separate building, 40 by 60 feet, was erected for a dwelling-house for community and the candidates. In 1868, the church was built, 50 by 123 1 and 40 feet from floor to ceiling ; and it was pronounced by the Most Rever Archbishop Purcell, on divers occasions, as being one of the nicest churches in diocese. There was erected, in 1870, actual Institute building, 70 by 1641 four stories high, with a Mansard-roof. It is built in a very substantial man and cost $62,000. The lower floor is occupied by two large study-halls, two lot's, refectory, kitchen and store-room. There is a corridor on each floor, ten wide, with stairs of easy ascent, with iron plates covering the steps at each en the building that lead to the different stories of the building. The ground f is taken up by eight class-rooms and eight private rooms. On the third f there are two sleeping rooms and three rooms for infirmary use ; also, wardr washing room, music and singing rooms. The fourth story is one vast hall, tending over the whole building, used as a sleeping room. There is a large I tank, of about one hundred barrels capacity, to supply the washing-rooms on : third-floor; and in case of fire, by means of hose the floors can be flooded. I amusement hall consists of four different divisions - first, a floor, 60 by 110 on solid ground ; then 60 by 58 feet on a floor for quiet amusements. The 1j house consists of twelve small rooms, provided with a window, bath-tubs, faucets for cold and warm water. The upper story is frame, and is the exhibi hall, where the pupils give entertainments from time to time during the year, expenses for construction were $10,500, and the buildings are all complete paid for. In 1862, Rev. L. Meyer was succeeded by R.ev. John Courtes, wh< mained in charge until 1864, then succeeded by Rev. J. N. Reinbolt, the pre Superior Provincial of the Institution. The first Superintendent was the Re's Zeliler, familiarly known as Brother Zehler, who served in that cap;j until 1876, when he asked of his Superiors to be relieved of bis ( of responsibility^. He was succeeded by Rev. Francis Feith, and in 1 he by Rev. George Meyer, who is yet in office. The school is now der the direction of the following named ; Rev. Father J. N. Rein Superior Provincial ; Rev. Father George Meyer, Director of Institute ; Father John Issler, Master of Novices, and Rev. Fathers N. Nickels am Beyrer, supported by an able corps of teachers. There are two departm namely, Normal and Collegiate, the former exclusively for the training of tea; for the Brotherhood or Society of Brothers. The system of instruction is ough and embraces a complete commercial and classical education. Music, c ing and the higher arts are also taught. In the Normal department are uoi rolled about one hundred and forty' scholars, and in the Collegiate departp one hundred and thirty-three, forty of whom are day scholars. The institutii self-supporting.

The Miami Commercial College

This college has for many years been one of the leading educational in tions of the city, having not only a large local patronage, but a constant at ance from the surrounding States. It was established in 1860, by Mr. B. D- ; b;. the accomplished author of the Babbittonian system of penmanship. In 1862 ' Babbitt associated with him Mr. A. D. Wilt, who, in 1865, succeeded to the sole (., trol and ownership of the college, which he yet retains. The most approved hods of instruction have always been pursued, and thoroughly practical and e ipetenf instructors engaged, and as a result, the graduates of the college are had engaged as highly successful business men and accountants in all the leadir cities of the country. The college now occupies an entire floor of the elegant Ffemans' Insurance Building, on the corner of Main and Second streets, and is lplete in all of its appointments. The faculty consists of Mr. A. D. Wilt, Princi- Mr. W. H. Sunderland, Assistant Principal ; Mr. A. C. Tjder, Superintendent 'Practice Department, and Mr. W. E. Donson, Assistant in the Theory bailment.